<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. )*
of
Tweedy, Browne Company L.P.
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. )*
of
TBK Partners, L.P.
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, Par Value $.01 PER SHARE
(Title of Class of Securities)
677864100
(CUSIP Number)
John D. Spears
52 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 916-0600
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
UPON EXAMINATION ON
JUNE 13, 1997 OF THE
ISSUER'S LAST FILING ON
FORM 10K
(Date of Event which Required Filing of this Statement)
<PAGE> 2
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].
Check the following box if a fee is paid with the statement [ ]. (A fee is not
required only if the reporting person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act,
but shall be subject to all the provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
<PAGE> 3
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 677864100 Page __ of __ Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Tweedy, Browne Company L.P. ("TBC")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) / /
(b) /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE VOTING POWER
TBC has sole voting power with respect to
490,190 shares held in certain TBC accounts (as
hereinafter defined). Additionally, certain of the
general partners of TBC may be deemed to have sole power
to vote certain shares as more fully set forth herein.
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 0 shares
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 0 shares, except that certain of the general
WITH partners of TBC may be deemed to have sole power to
dispose of certain shares as more fully set forth
herein.
------------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
518,783 shares held in accounts of TBC (as
hereinafter defined).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
518,783 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
/X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
11.57%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BD, IA & PN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE> 4
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 677864100 Page __ of __ Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
TBK Partners L.P. ("TBK")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) / /
(b) /X/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
WC and BK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE VOTING POWER
14,655 shares, except that the general partners
in TBK, solely by reason of their positions as such,
may be deemed to have shared power to vote these shares.
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 0 shares
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 14,655 shares, except that the general partners
WITH in TBK, solely by reason of their positions as such
may be deemed to have shared power to vote these shares.
------------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
14,655 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
/ /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.33%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE> 5
PRELIMINARY NOTE
This Statement on Schedule 13D is being filed because the filing persons
may be deemed to be members of a group comprised of Tweedy, Browne Company L.P.
("TBC") and TBK Partners, L.P. ("TBK"), which group may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner in the aggregate of in excess of 5% of the Common Stock of
Oil-Dri Corporation of America. However, the filing of this Schedule 13D should
not be deemed an admission that TBC and TBK comprise a group within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the"Act").
ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER
This Schedule 13D relates to the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common
Stock"), of Oil-Dri Corporation of America (the "Company"), which, to the best
knowledge of the persons filing this Schedule 13D, is a company organized under
the laws of Delaware, with its principal executive offices located at 410 North
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND
(a) The persons filing this Schedule 13D are (i) Tweedy, Browne Company
L.P. ("TBC"), a Delaware limited partnership and (ii) TBK Partners, L.P.
("TBK"), a Delaware limited partnership. Annexed as Exhibit 99.1, which is
incorporated by reference herein, is an agreement between TBC and TBK that this
Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of each of them. The filing of this Schedule 13D
should not be deemed an admission that TBC and TBK comprise a group within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act").
This Schedule 13D contains information regarding shares of Common Stock
that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TBC. Such shares are held in the
accounts of various customers of TBC, with respect to which accounts TBC has
investment discretion (the "TBC Accounts"), and with respect to some of which it
has obtained sole or shared voting power.
The general partners of TBK are Christopher H. Browne, William H. Browne,
Thomas P. Knapp and John D. Spears. The general partners of TBC are Christopher
H. Browne, William H. Browne and John D. Spears (the "General Partners"). By
reason of their positions as such, the general partners of TBK may be deemed to
control TBK and the general partners of TBC may be deemed to control TBC,
respectively.
(b) The business address of each of TBC, TBK and the General Partners is
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
(c) TBC is engaged primarily in the business of a securities broker and
dealer and investment adviser, is registered as a broker-dealer and investment
adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
TBK is a private investment partnership and is currently, and at all
relevant times was, engaged primarily in the business of investing in securities
for its own account.
The present principal occupation of each of the General Partners is serving
as such for TBC and TBK. The present principal occupation of Thomas P. Knapp is
serving as a general partner in TBK. The principal business address of each of
TBC and TBK is set forth above.
(d) None of TBC, TBK, Thomas P. Knapp, nor any General Partner has, during
the last five years, been convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations and similar misdemeanors).
<PAGE> 6
(e) None of TBC, TBK, Thomas P. Knapp, nor any General Partner has, during
the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which proceeding it
or he was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future
violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or
state securities laws or finding any violations with respect thereto.
(f) Each of TBC and TBK is a Delaware limited partnership. Each of the
General Partners and Thomas P. Knapp is a citizen of the United States of
America.
ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNTS OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION
As of the date hereof, the number of shares with respect to which TBC may
be deemed to be the beneficial owner is 518,783 shares of Common Stock (the "TBC
Shares"), all of which shares were purchased in open market transactions. The
aggregate cost of the TBC Shares, including brokerage commissions, was
$8,074,715.
The TBC Shares are held in the TBC Accounts, the funds therefor coming from
the funds on hand in each individual managed account and in certain instances
from standard margin account borrowings from brokerage accounts maintained at
Fleet Clearing Corporation. It is expected that funds used by the TBC Accounts
to purchase additional shares of Common Stock, if additional shares are
purchased by the TBC Accounts (see Item 4 hereof), will come from the funds on
hand for each individual managed account, which funds on hand at any time and
from time to time may include, among others, funds borrowed pursuant to margin
accounts maintained at Fleet Clearing Corporation. Borrowings made by certain
TBC Accounts pursuant to such margin accounts are secured by margin securities
owned by the respective accounts, including some of the TBC Shares. Interest on
outstanding borrowings under such margin accounts ranges from 1/2% to 2% over
the brokers' call rate in effect from time to time at Chemical Bank, New York,
New York, depending upon the amount of outstanding borrowings at any given time.
As of the date hereof, TBK beneficially owns directly 14,655 shares of
Common Stock (the "TBK Shares"), all of which shares were purchased in open
market transactions. The aggregate cost of the TBK Shares, including brokerage
commissions, was $226,567.
It is expected that funds used by TBK to purchase additional shares of
Common Stock, if additional shares are purchased by TBK (see Item 4 hereof),
will come from TBK's general funds, which include cash and cash equivalents on
hand and in banks.
TBK's general funds have included, and it is expected that they will from
time to time include, funds borrowed by it pursuant to an understanding with
Chemical Bank. As of the date hereof, TBK has a loan outstanding with Chemical
Bank in the amount of $20,000.00. Borrowings made by TBK pursuant to that
understanding bear interest at the brokers' call rate in effect from time to
time at Chemical Bank. TBK's funds on hand have also included, and it is
expected that they will from time to time include, funds borrowed by it pursuant
to an understanding with The Bank of New York, New York, New York. Pursuant to
that understanding, TBK may borrow funds at the brokers' call rate charged from
time to time by The Bank of New York. As of the date hereof, TBK has a loan
outstanding with The Bank of New York in the amount of $10,000.00. Borrowings
made by TBK pursuant to its understandings with Chemical Bank and The Bank of
New York are secured by securities owned by TBK; such borrowings are not secured
by any TBK Shares. No borrowings from Chemical Bank or The Bank of New York were
made for the purpose of acquiring the TBK Shares. TBK reserves the right to
include all or any of the shares of Common Stock owned by it at any time or from
time to time, among the securities that serve as collateral for such borrowings,
subject to compliance with any applicable statutes and regulations.
<PAGE> 7
ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION
Each of TBC and TBK has acquired the shares of Common Stock owned by it for
investment purposes and for none of the reasons enumerated in Item 4 of Schedule
13D, except that TBC and TBK may dispose of all or some of the TBC Shares and
the TBK Shares, respectively, or may acquire additional shares of Common Stock
from time to time, depending upon price and market conditions, evaluation of
alternative investments, and other factors. Currently, TBC and TBK intend to
acquire additional shares of Common Stock in the open market, depending upon the
price of the Common Stock from time to time.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
(a) As of the date hereof, TBC may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
an aggregate of 518,783 shares of Common Stock, which constitutes approximately
11.57% of the 4,481,803 shares of Common Stock which TBC believes to be the
total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. The TBC Shares are held in
the TBC Accounts.
As of the date hereof, TBK beneficially owns directly 14,655 shares of
Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 0.33% of the 4,481,803 shares of
Common Stock which TBK believes to be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding.
Also included in the TBC Accounts are 185 shares of Common Stock held in a
charitable foundation of which Christopher H. Browne is a trustee. Mr. Browne is
a general partner in TBC and TBK.
Each of TBC and TBK disclaims that it is the beneficial owner of any of the
shares of Common Stock held in the TBC Accounts. The aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock with respect to which TBC and TBK could be deemed to be the
beneficial owner as of the date hereof, is 533,438 shares, which constitutes
approximately 11.90% of the 4,481,803 shares of Common Stock, which the filing
persons believe to be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding,
but nothing contained herein shall be construed as an admission that TBC is the
beneficial owner of any of the TBC Shares.
The aggregate number of shares and percentage of Common Stock with respect
to which each of the General Partners may be deemed to be the beneficial owner
by reason of his being a general partner of TBC and TBK, respectively, is
533,438 shares, which constitutes approximately 11.90% of the 4,481,803 shares
of Common Stock outstanding. The aggregate number of shares and percentage of
Common Stock with respect to which Thomas P. Knapp may be deemed to be a
beneficial owner by reason of his being a general partner of TBK is 14,655
shares of Common Stock which constitutes approximately 0.33% of the 4,481,803
shares of Common Stock outstanding. However, nothing contained herein shall be
construed as an admission that any of the General Partners or Thomas P. Knapp is
the beneficial owner of any shares of Common Stock, except as set forth herein
as expressly and admittedly being beneficially owned by a particular General
Partner or Thomas P. Knapp.
Each of TBC and TBK disclaims beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by
the other. Except as described herein, to the best knowledge of TBC and TBK, no
person who may be deemed to comprise a group with any of TBC and TBK or any
other person named in Item 2 hereof, beneficially owns any shares of Common
Stock.
(b) TBC has investment discretion with respect to 518,783 shares of Common
Stock held by the TBC Accounts and has sole power to dispose or direct the
disposition of all of such shares. Of these shares of Common Stock, TBC has sole
power to vote or to direct the voting of 490,190 shares of Common Stock held in
certain TBC Accounts.
Each of the General Partners of TBC, solely by reason of their positions as
such, may be deemed to have (i) shared power to dispose of or to direct the
disposition of all of the shares of Common Stock held in the TBC Accounts; and
(ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote of 490,190 shares of Common Stock
held in certain TBC Accounts.
<PAGE> 8
TBK has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of and dispose or
direct the disposition of the TBK Shares. Each of the General Partners and
Thomas P. Knapp, solely by reason of their positions as general partners, may be
deemed to have shared power to vote or direct the vote of and to dispose or
direct the disposition of the TBK Shares.
<TABLE>
(c) During the sixty-day period ended as of the date hereof, TBC and TBK
purchased shares of Common Stock in open market transactions as follows:
<CAPTION>
NO OF SHARES PRICE
TBC ACCOUNTS PURCHASED PER SHARE
<S> <C> <C>
05/27/97 12,700 $15.36811
05/30/97 7,200 $15 3/8
06/03/97 191,245 $15 3/8
TBK:
06/03/97 13,655 $15 3/8
</TABLE>
(d) To the best knowledge of TBC, each of the persons maintaining an
account with TBC has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of
dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of Common Stock
held in said person's TBC Account.
To the best knowledge of TBK, no person other than TBK has the right to
receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds
from the sale of, the TBK Shares, except that the General Partners and Thomas P.
Knapp may be deemed to have such rights and powers solely by reason of being
general partners in TBK.
(e) Not applicable.
ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Except as otherwise described herein, none of TBC and TBK, nor, to the best
knowledge of TBC or TBK, any other person named in Item 2 hereof, has any
contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with respect to any
securities of the Issuer.
ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS
Exhibit 99.1 - - Agreement pursuant to Rule 13d-1(f)(1)(iii).
<PAGE> 9
SIGNATURE
Each of Tweedy, Browne Company L.P. and TBK Partners, L.P. after reasonable
inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, hereby certifies that the
information set forth in this Statement (which includes the Exhibit annexed
hereto) is true, complete and correct.
TWEEDY, BROWNE COMPANY L.P.
By _____________________________
Christopher H. Browne
General Partner
TBK PARTNERS, L.P.
By _____________________________
Christopher H. Browne
General Partner
Dated: June 17, 1997
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.1
AGREEMENT dated as of June 17, 1997 between Tweedy, Browne Company L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("TBC") and TBK Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("TBK").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, TBC and TBK may be deemed to have acquired, in the aggregate,
beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the Common Stock (the "Common
Stock") of Oil-Dri Corporation of America (The "Company") and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 13d-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Act"), a Statement on Schedule 13D must be filed by any person who
acquires more than five percent of registered equity securities; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) of the Act, only one such
Statement need be filed whenever two or more persons are required to file such a
Statement pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Act with respect to the same
securities, provided that said persons agree in writing that such Statement is
filed on behalf of each of them.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
TBC and TBK do hereby agree, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) under the
Act, to file one Statement on Schedule 13D relating to their ownership of the
Common Stock, and do hereby further agree that said Statement shall be filed on
behalf of each of TBC and TBK. Nothing herein, however, shall be, or shall be
deemed to be, an admission that the parties hereto, or any of them, are members
of a "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder) with respect to any securities of the
Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
TWEEDY, BROWNE COMPANY L.P. TBK PARTNERS, L.P.
By _______________________________ By _____________________________
Christopher H. Browne Christopher H. Browne
General Partner General Partner
